Potato harvesting machine



Aug 7, 1945. L. L. LUNDBERG 2,381,172

POTATO HARVESTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l Aug, 7, 1945. L. LUNDBERG POTATO HARVESTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug 7,; 1945. L. LUNDBERG 2,381,172

POTATO HARVESTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet s construction, strong, reliable in operation, compact,

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Patented Aug, 7, 1945 UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE I POTATO anti ame momma mum 1:32:; 1220mm (cl. ss-sn rown.

conveyors, aprons, cleaning mechanism, etc., are

all driven from a single source of power.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a potato harvesting machine of the character described which will be comparatively simplein durable, high y efieient and and which may and advantages of apparent tion. taken in V drawings wherein like characters of reference to corresponding parts throuchout the muresisacrosssectionalviewthroushthe from a study of the following specifics-- connection with the accompanying frame-structure may be hitched to veyors- 6 and extend forwardly and downwardly from the front endvportion of the frame structure I. Plows t on the forward ends of the conveyors and-5 lift the potatoes out of the ground onto said conveyors. Ground rollers I of the shape shown to advantage in Figure 1 of thedrawings aremounted on the conveyors t and 5 forwardly of the plows t. The rollers l crush surface clods in addition to supporting the front end of the machine.

Mounted transversely on the front portion of the framestructure i is an apron t which resolves the potatoes from the conveyor i. The apron 8, also the conveyor 5, deposit the potatoes on the lower end portion of an elevating conveyor '2 which is mounted on the frame structure I adjacent one side thereof. it deflector or chute It on the is structure I directs the potatoes onto the elevating conveyor and partially breaks the fall thereof. 4 1

The eleva conveyor s, in the embodiment shown, includes an inclined trough Ii in which the upper nights of a-pair of endless chains I2- are operable. on the ch Transverse rollers is are journg led I: for rolling the potawes. e15 up the trough Ii.

machinc,takensubstantiallyonthelineI-l sectional view mourn the suhstanflally on the line tary viewinside elevaportion of the main'elcvatins is an apron H which Suction conduits It and Iii are mounted on the forward portion of the frame structure I.

The suction conduit It extends downwardly towardthe lower end of the elevating conveyor 9 and the intakeend of said conduit is located adlacent the trough ii for lifting all vines, trash, etc. therefrom.

The suction conduit which enter the elevating conveyor 9 through the longitudinal sides II thereof for disintegrating and removing soft clots, trash, etc. through a grill I! which is interposed in the trough II. The

conduits Id and I5 further include substantially conical discharge end portions I9 which are directed rearwardly beneath theplatform- 3. Suction fans 20 are operablein the portions I! of the conduits I4 and I5.

Mounted longitudinally above the platform a the elevating conveyor 9. The potatoes may be sacked at the rear end of the apron 2 I.- Toward this end, a horizontally swinging erable across the rear end portion or the apron 2|. The sate 22 is adapted to deflect the potatoes I is a. platform 8. The machine a-tractor or other source of a power in any suitable manner.

It comprises branches I5- receives the potatoes from gate 22 is op- V conveyor 9, the apron 2|, the conveyors 5 and 4 l0 and the apron 8 for operation in unison. A belt and pulley drive 26 operatively connect the elevating conveyor 9 to the engine 23. A suitable clutch 2! permits the drives 24 and 26 to be connected to or disconnected from the engine 23 as desired.

It is thought'that the operation of the machine will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, as the machine is pulled across the field, the rollers 1 which support the forward end of said machine, crush any surface clods in the paths of the plows 6. The plows 6 raise the potatoes out of the ground onto the conveyors 4 and-5. As hereinbefore stated, the

conveyor 4 deposits the potatoes on the apron 8 and said apron 8. in turn, together with the conveyor 5, deposits the potatoes on the lower portion of the elevating conveyor 9. At this point the vines, trash, etc., are drawn off through the conduit I 4 and discharged rearwardly beneath the 30 platform 3. The potatoes are rolled up the elevating conveyor 9 across the grid l8 at which point the soft clods and other foreign matter are removed by the conduit l5 and also discharged rearwardly beneath the platform 3. From the 3:

elevating conveyor 9 the potatoes are discharged onto the longitudinal apron 2|, at the rear end of which said potatoes are sacked. The sacked potatoes may then be loaded on a vehicle accompanying the machine. Inspectors may stand on. 40

assaivs the platform 3 on either or both sides of th apron 2|. Also a supply of bags may be carried onthe platform 3.

It is behaved that the many advantages of a potato harvester constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the machine is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed,

What is claimed is:

A potato harvesting machine comprising a frame having 'rear supporting wheels, a pair of spaced parallel inclined endless conveyors extending forwardly and downwardly from the front end of said frame, plows on the forward ends of said conveyors, clod-crushing rollers mounted on the forward ends of the conveyors in front of said plows and supporting the front of the frame, an inclined elevating conveyor mounted longitudinally of and On the forward portion of the frame adjacent one side of the latter and aligned with one of said pair of conveyors to receive dirt and vines and potatoes from the same, a transverse apron mounted on the forward end of the frame and arranged to receive dirt and vines and potatoes from the other of said pair of conveyors and discharge the same onto the forward end of said elevating conveyor, means to separately remove dirt and vines from said elevating conveyor and discharge the same rearwardly onto the ground below the frame, a platform on the rear portion of the frame, and a longitudinal apron mounted above the platform in line with the elevating. conveyor to receive the potatoes from the latter and convey the same rearwardly for bagging on the platform LOREN L. LUNDBERG. 

